Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK

Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK

By: Our Reporter

Nigeria is participating in the Cocoa Beyond Borders 2026 Conference in the United Kingdom, joining global policymakers, industry leaders, financiers, and farmer representatives to examine power imbalances and compliance challenges in the global cocoa sector.

Delivering a keynote address, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria, challenged existing trade and compliance regimes, stating that cocoa-producing nations “must not remain rule-takers in a system where the rules are made without their meaningful input.”

Speaking within the conference theme, “Rules Without Recourse? Navigating Compliance, Power, and Trade Justice in the Cocoa Sector,” the Minister warned that sustainability frameworks would fail if they undermine farmer livelihoods and national sovereignty, stressing that “compliance cannot be just if it weakens producer economies while protecting markets elsewhere.”

Senator Kyari also cautioned against the weaponisation of ESG and environmental regulations as non-tariff barriers, noting that climate action must advance alongside fairness and equity in global trade.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reclaiming value across the cocoa supply chain, emphasising the need for producing countries to move beyond raw exports to processing, branding, and greater market influence, while calling for stronger producer-led alliances to reshape global cocoa governance.

The two-day conference is examining ESG compliance, digital traceability, climate finance, price volatility, and the future of cocoa innovation, positioning cocoa as a strategic asset in global trade justice.

Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK